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Improvement in Nutritional Status Reduces the Clinical Impact of Infections in Older Adults
Author(s) -
Forster Sarah E.,
Powers Hilary J.,
Foulds Gemma A.,
Flower Daniel J.,
Hopkinson Kay,
Parker Stuart G.,
Young Tracey A.,
Saxton John,
Pockley Alan G.,
Williams Elizabeth A.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.04118.x
Subject(s) - micronutrient , medicine , placebo , randomized controlled trial , micronutrient deficiency , clinical trial , food group , quality of life (healthcare) , gerontology , environmental health , alternative medicine , nursing , pathology
Objectives To determine the effect of a dietary intervention and micronutrient supplementation on self‐reported infections in older adults. Design A randomized, placebo‐controlled intervention trial. Setting Community living older people in S outh Y orkshire, U nited K ingdom. Participants Two‐hundred seventeen older adults aged 65 to 85. Intervention Participants were randomized to a dietary intervention, a daily micronutrient supplement, or placebo for 3 months, with a 3‐month follow‐up. Measurements Self‐reported measures of infection were reported over the 6‐month study period. Secondary outcome measures were nutritional status, dietary intake, quality of life, and depression. Results Self‐reported measures of infection over the 6‐month duration of the study were significantly different between the treatment groups. The number of weeks in which illness affected life and the number of general practitioner and hospital visits were significantly lower in the food and micronutrient groups than in the placebo group. The number of weeks in which symptoms of an infection were described was significantly lower in the food group than the placebo and micronutrient groups. Significant improvements in biomarkers of micronutrient status were achieved in the food and micronutrient groups and showed significantly greater change than observed in the placebo group. Significant improvement in dietary intakes was observed in the food group only. Conclusion Improving dietary intake and micronutrient status reduces the clinical impact of self‐reported infections in older adults.